Dedicated to the knowledge and practice of Yoga

Practicing Ashtanga

Think of this as a book, in progress, online. It is written for those interested in the semi-technical aspects of practicing Yoga as a science. This introductory guide is intended as a jumping-off point into a vast and beautiful subject, and only attempts to convey a modest fraction of Yoga science. Although the positions are approached from the perspective of Ashtanga, my personal interest, the lessons of biomechanics, anatomy, and alignment are applicable no matter what your stylistic preferences may be. If you are self-practicing, please practice and become competent with one pose and then the next, rather than trying to tackle the whole sequence at once.

Asana: Pose / PostureAsana literally means ‘seat.’ It is taken today to mean a Yoga pose or posture. Each asana presents its own challenges and opportunities, and yet each is simply a new form or container for the breath to fill. Competence in an Asana is not simply creating the physical appearance of the pose; it is when the breath is full and unlabored, the entire body is intelligent and participating fully in the effort, the is mind clear and focused. When we begin to work on a new, difficult asana, the breath is shallow, rapid, or held, and parts of the body are stiff, weak, painful, forgotten, injured, or immobile. The Ashtanga sequences are crafted to systematically uncover and rehabilitate these deficiencies, frequently ones that we were unaware of. Over time, with intelligent practice, each part of the body and mind becomes strong, light, and healthy. Continue reading…